“There is no greater disability in society, than the inability to see a person as more”
Robert M. Hensel
Special school
More Africa
More Africa is a non-governmental organization (NGO) on Zanzibar which focuses on children and young adults with physical and/or mental disabilities. The special school provides special education, physical therapy, medical help, training and daycare to children who aren’t allowed anywhere else because of their disability.
Goals
The main aim of More Africa is the special school, in order to provide every child the right to education, therapy and/or meaningful daytime activities. On Zanzibar, education, counseling or therapy for children/young adults with disabilities are not obvious. Parents often struggle with the fact that they want the best for their child, but the child cannot go anywhere and will not be accepted at regular schools. For these children, More Africa is there. We provide customized education, counseling and therapy.
Approach
The More Africa school offers these children and young adults the opportunity to develop themselves in a familiar and safe environment, as More Africa works with individual careplans and all children have their own personal goals they would like to achieve.
Parents
More Africa is a progressive organization on Zanzibar when it comes to involving parents in the development, guidance and support of their child. More Africa is convinced that it is essential to involve parents in the development of the child. In this way parents can continue the development at home, in the familiar surroundings.
School Departments
Daycare
The daycare consists of children with (severe) developmental delays and multiple disabilities. These children learn experientially, there is no pressure.
Nursery
The nursery group consists toddlers and children with major development delays. We prepare them for the primary school by teaching them basic scholar and social skills.
Primary
The primary group consists of children who are not allowed in Zanzibar to go to a government school due to their disabilities.
Advanced
The advanced group, consists of children who have moved on from the primary. In this class the children learn almost all subjects that are taught in a “normal” school; reading, writing, math, geography, science, English, sports & music.
16+ Training
The 16+ group consists of our youth who were outgrowing the school. They are trained in the various aspects of the guesthouse, such as security, garden, bar, kitchen and housekeeping. Eventually they work towards a (paid) job.
Physical Therapy
About one-third of all children in the school have physical disabilities in addition to mental disabilities. For these children, we offer physical therapy. In our new school we have a special room equipped for physiotherapy. We also have a relaxation room, where all the senses are stimulated.
An overview of our work
The school
Currently More Africa offers care and education to 25 children and young adults between the ages of 1 and 22.
Type of (dis)abilities
The disabilities of More Africa’s children are very diverse. More Africa has quite a few children with Down syndrome. In addition, we have many children with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spasms, hemiplegia, etc. More Africa also offers care to children with severe mental disabilities, autism, ODD and behavioural problems.
Logistics and transport
All 25 children come from the Zanzibar South-East coast and are picked up by us at home every day and dropped off at the end of the school day.
Costs for parents
The care provided by More Africa is free of charge for the parents and children. We believe every child has the right to education, therapy and meaningful daytime activities.
Visit the school
You are most welcome to visit our school. Please send us a message to make an appointment. We prefer visits on wednesdays & fridays between 11.30-12.30. We want to ask all our visitors to dress appropriate; knees and shoulders covered
